Shabazz Palaces, the eclectic and experimental hip-hop duo consisting of Tendai ‘Baba’ Maraire and Ishmael Butler (aka Butterfly from Digable Planets) has announced a follow-up to 2011’s “Black Up.”
The duo premiered the album during a light show at the Pacific Science Center Laser Dome in Seattle last weekend, “Les Majesty,” Shabazz Palaces sophomore full-length on Sub Pop, is due out on July 29.
The group is known for weaving politically charged verses through complex production. With the act’s debut, “Black Up,” they defined themselves with one of the more progressive sounds in hip-hop thanks to deep instrumentation by Maraire.
On the strength of that release, Shabazz Palaces . The act last performed in Denver
From our April review:
Shabazz Palaces have a maximalist approach to their production; every nook and cranny is filled with noise. The recorded effect is dense, challenging hip-hop that treats the beats with the same importance as the words. Live, the approach shrouded the vocals in waves of deep low ends and pitched-up vocals. Shabazz Palaces places such an emphasis on the texture of their sounds, though, that it worked.
See photos of Shabazz Palaces at the UMS in 2012 below:
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Ru Johnson is an arts and culture music writer living in Denver. You can follow her on
